It is the nearly the end of my time as Grand Marshal, and the end of my writings, for this is my final Top Hat.
I would like to begin by thanking not only everyone who helped me during the past year, but also everyone who believed in me, beginning with each and every one of you who voted for me last spring. I couldn’t have done it without your support and care; this includes all of you who took the time to read my Top Hats.
I also want to thank the wonderful staff of the Union Administration Office, especially Rick Hartt, Jean Purtell, and Martha McElligott. Rick is one of the biggest proponents of students on this campus, and I was always able to stop by his office for advice or help, especially because he has a wealth of knowledge about RPI’s history.
I would also like to thank the members of the Student Senate, who were very professional and focused when it came to meetings and addressing issues affecting RPI students. I want to single out a few senators, starting with August Fietkau ’08, to whom almost every student owes a debt of gratitude in ways they are probably not aware. August is a true believer in RPI, and has put countless hours into improving the experiences of students he has never met by holding feet to the fire wherever he felt the Institute could improve.
My vice-chair, Ken Girardin ’08, was another senator who put in 100 percent, and always dedicated to improving the quality of student life at RPI. Graduate senator Ben Cohen amazed me with his drive for promoting the incorporation of sustainability on campus—successfully, so far, and Chris D’Angelo ’09, while not a senator, managed to do the best job running a Senate committee that I’ve seen in my time here. Other senators who also went above and beyond in their dedication this past year include Andrew Neidhardt ’11, Michael Zwack ’11, and Brian Zaik ’09.
I owe many thanks to RPI TV, which has improved student government by injecting sunlight into the process, and Moe Yeh ’08, the Senate’s Secretary, who volunteered his time every week to take minutes at our meetings, which is no easy task.
Professors Deanna Thompson, William Siegmann, Larry Kagan, and Jim Napolitano are just some of the faculty members I would like to thank for working with me on a variety of issues. Dean of Students Mark Smith and Dean of Graduate Education Lester Gerhardt also partnered with me to improve the student experience.
Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank President Shirley Ann Jackson and her cabinet for working with me over the past year, as well as the Board of Trustees, the Rensselaer Alumni Association, and the Friends of the Folsom Library.
The criticism has been plentiful, and that’s not entirely a bad thing. I wanted more dialogue on this campus, because the absence of serious discussion is what caused many of our problems. For instance, for the first time in memory, next year’s tuition increase is coupled with a significant increase in financial aid. This wasn’t a random occurrence: student government leaders have been beating the war drum on the issue of tuition hikes in many interactions we had with the president, several cabinet members, and the Board of Trustees.
Moving forward, student government should be a movement, not just an organization. It is supposed to be where people come together to make RPI a better place. If it ever turns into something that is just an organization, or if you—the students—begin to perceive it as such, then speak up. When you did, it told me that you cared, and that you had an investment in seeing our school improve. It was this feedback that I quoted in my countless discussions with Jackson, administrators, staff, faculty, and trustees.
If there are three words I will leave you with, it’s “We are RPI.” Not only is this something to be proud of, as we’re a part of one of the greatest schools in the world, it also means that we are the essence of this great institution. As such, we have as much power as we choose to exercise. We have the capacity to demand improvements, in our living arrangements, our curricula, and every single component of our experience here. Student government has worked to remind the students of this power. The minute your GM, PU, senator, representative, or the like chooses to avoid addressing major issues like parking on campus, curriculum changes, or students rights is the minute students begin to lose this power. We can’t be afraid to address the hot topics, and when the time comes for us to do so, your representatives will need to know if they’re headed in the right direction, and they will need your support.
It’s been fun, RPI.
